DETROIT (AP) -- Nicklas Lidstrom is so used to being great that the star defenseman refused to settle for just being good.

Lidstrom retired after 20 quietly spectacular seasons with the Detroit Red Wings, leaving a legacy of greatness on and off the ice along with perhaps another $6 million he could have made with a third straight one-year contract.

The four-time Stanley Cup champion and seven-time Norris Trophy winner fought back tears as he made the announcement Thursday. He said he knew it was time to end one of the best careers in NHL history when he started to work out recently.

"My drive and motivation are not where they to need to be to play at this level,'' Lidstrom said.


Read more: Detroit Red Wings great Nicklas Lidstrom retires - NHL - SI.com

Sad day for all hockey fans. Personally he was the one player I was really hoping I would be able to watch live before he retired. I had just started to look for flights to Detroit this fall....

Commissioner Bettman statement on Lidstrom's retirement

NEW YORK – Gary Bettman, Commissioner of the National Hockey League, today released the following statement regarding the retirement of Detroit Red Wings captain Nicklas Lidstrom:

"Nick Lidstrom's trademarks were his respect for hockey, his humanity and his commitment to his craft -- as well as his devotion to the highest standards of success. For so many seasons, Nick gave the very best to his team, his city and his League; as he moves on to the next stage of his life, we wish the very same for him and his family."

I tried to do the same for Modano...sucks when you know the clock is ticking.

What!? Slo wasn't the one to post this? Lol

My brother sent me this. I have no idea where he found it, so I uploaded it to the site in order to post it. I think its fancy. Nice tribute...other Wings fans (and maybe non-Wings fans) will agree. It implies that he will be the 7th player to have his # retired, however it hasn't been announced...but probably will eventually happen.



Its supposed to be posted, but I don't see it in this post. Well, it is in my album and on the main page of this group for anyone who can't see it.

Shocking. He played at an unbelievably high level for so long, even last year.